cascade | kotlc

12. Infiltrating Foxfire

 "Okay," Linh said slowly, taking in June's plan. "Are you really sure there isn't a better method?"

"You're free to make suggestions," June told her, shrugging.

Currently, June wanted to levitate them high, high over Foxfire and have Linh hold onto an invisibly thin wire, swing on it for at least a thousand feet, a hundred stories above the ground, over to Wylie's window, because he knew them already. Apparently it was the only way to avoid all of Foxfire's sensors.

"Can't you just... I don't know, use your Gusting to go over?"

June raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "You're scared, aren't you?"

"What? No! Why would I be scared of a simple swing?" She chuckled faintly, dying inside. "I just... would feel better if you came along with me."

"I can't get within a hundred feet of Foxfire's grounds," June told her. "Foxfire has systems that detect the locations of all its prodigies when they enter the grounds, to take attendance. Unfortunately, that feature is always turned on, even during breaks."

"Heh. Okay." She glanced helplessly at Tam. "Um- I should, uh, probably check if my brother's fine with this."

"You're definitely scared," June teased, running her fingers over Linh's hair. She felt herself blush slightly, and she longed for June to touch her longer, to stroke her hands through her hair.

"Honestly, I don't think it's that bad," Tam offered, leaning against a wall. "We've definitely done way more scary things. Is this really that bad compared to Ravagog?"

"No, it's just-" Linh rubbed her forehead. "I'm, honestly... I'm honestly kind of scared, yeah," she admitted. "I... don't feel particularly safe putting my life on a piece of twine."

"It's not twine," June said, looking offended. "It's a very strong and durable piece of rope, so thin you can't see it when it's moving. That's why it's perfect to use in our infiltration today. We can't risk being seen."

"So you're going to let me dangle over Foxfire, in plain view?"
"No, the sun will be setting, and soon it'll be too dark for anyone to see. It's break anyways, it lined up perfectly, actually. I had to leave Havenfield-" her voice faltered, and she trembled slightly, like she was afraid.

Linh noticed, taking her hand, tingles shooting up her spine. "Is something happening back home?"

June wiped away some tears, and she looked up, almost painfully. "I'm fine. It's just, Keefe said the Neverseen were planning to attack Mom and Dad..." she paled. "They didn't want me there. I think... I'm scared," she whispered to the air. "I'm really scared of what's going to happen."

Linh didn't particularly know what to respond, and she resorted to wrapping her into a hug, squeezing her tightly and telling her it'd be okay.

She had done this for me. I'll do it for her.

"Thank you. I'm just... forget it." June tossed her satchel over her shoulders, brushing away her hair and donning a mask of cheerfulness. She dug something out of her pockets, pulling out a small, white box and pulling out-

"Are those earphones?" Linh interrupted.

"Yeah, actually. Here." She offered her one and she popped it into her ear, surprised when it melted away as if it was never there. June plugged her own in and pulled a thin thread from the tip, instructing Linh to tie it around her tunic neck.

"It's actually how we'll be communicating today," June told her, demonstrating the system. "Comms check?"

"Copy." Linh examined the strand. "Are you sure this'll work?"
"Dex made it. Of course it will. Here's your harness." She grabbed a loopy, elastic circle, helping Linh fit it around her waist as she tugged at belts, clicking locks into place as June wrapped the twine- sorry, 'a very strong and durable piece of rope' around the harness, tying it tight. "Just hang on and you'll be fine."